A day in the life of a International Student Advisor

Meet HuQing.

As an adviser to international students and scholars at the Harvard International Office (HIO), HuQing Piemonte not only helps ease the shock of students adapting to a new culture, she also plays a critical role in getting students here from nearly every country on earth.

“I advise on immigration issues for international students and researchers coming to Harvard,” she says. “Once a student who is not an American citizen is accepted to Harvard, our office issues the necessary legal paperwork to bring them here. We do the same for researchers and faculty.”

Since entering the U.S. requires very specific visas, Piemonte must know the ins and outs of the U.S. immigration regulations that apply to students, researchers and faculty.

“The regulations are constantly changing, “she says. “But I think that’s one of the exciting parts of the job.”

The work is far from dull. Because of tighter security rules instituted after Sept. 11, 2001, she and her HIO colleagues have the dual obligation to the U.S. government and to Harvard students and scholars. “On one hand,” she says, “the students and scholars may see us as part of the immigration services because we’re saying ‘these are the regulations.’ But that’s not our main role. We’re educators and advocates for students. Our ultimate responsibility is to the Harvard community.”

Piemonte exchanges email with students before meeting them at a special international student orientation each summer. There, she gives a session on immigration rules, and helps students with forms and applications required for employment, or to allow for travel home.

Once every student and scholar has checked in, the HIO must report to the USCIS to confirm that they are indeed in the United States. “They can’t register for classes without checking in with us, but it’s a fairly smooth process.”

Born and raised in China, Piemonte knows firsthand what it feels like to be an international student. She came to the U.S. in 1988, eventually earning a master’s degree in education with a focus on student counseling and services from Northeastern. She immediately put that degree to work helping other international students navigate the sometimes bumpy road to an education in the U.S.

“I really enjoy working with international students,” she says, recalling her own experiences. Her first internship was at Northeastern’s international office, where she got to help students like herself sort out their visas. “I think I have a natural strength in counseling, it was really great. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t this be a great job?’”

Indeed, since then, Piemonte has served as an international adviser to students at several local universities. She came to Harvard in 1998.

“Harvard offers me constantly interesting things to do, and the students are amazing. It’s inspiring to get to know them,” says Piemonte, whose own love of travel has taken her around the world.

“I don’t ever spend a day of my vacations in United States,” she says. “I love to travel, and I think it works well with my professional life.”